Coin Highlights

Presented in a red, white and blue faux leather pouch, the colours of the American flag

Description

Such an iconic building deserves an iconic coin so Pobjoy Mint has elected to strike a coin that replicates this imposing shape with great accuracy. Willliam Thornton is the man we can thank for this marvel of engineering and as he was born in the British Virgin Island it makes the Capitol coin a very fitting tribute. Only a few shaped coins exist on the market and this $1 has a low mintage for a coin of this type increasing its rarity and desirability to collectors. We have featured our new and exclusive effigy design of HM Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse which captures our Queen in all her glory.

The United States Capitol is also known as Capitol Building and Capitol Hill is the headquarters of the US Congress and the seat of the Legislative branch of the US Federal Government and is located on top of Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.

Pobjoy Mint is proud of the success we have had producing such an unusual shaped coin for the British Virgin Islands and hope that the time and love spent creating this coin is easily recognisable to our collectors.

A competition was held in the spring of 1792 with a prize of $500 to see which architect could propose the best design for the building. A late entry from amateur architect William Thornton was the source of the iconic shape that we see today. Thornton, born in the British Virgin Islands, was well travelled and gained inspiration for the frontage of the building from east front of the Louvre and the Paris Pantheon.

The first cornerstone of the Capitol was laid by the one and only George Washington in 1793 and construction of the 16 acre building continued until 1800. Upon completion famous dome wasn’t as grand as we see it today after being rebuilt in the 1850s it now stands three times as tall as the original and weighs 4,041 metric tons.